Xtreme took the beautifully manicured fields at the Maryland Soccerplex to open the Spring 2011 season, taking on new opponent, SSA Magic. Storm clouds loomed in the horizon, and would be an omen of things to come.
Xtreme quickly set the tone of the game, taking the first several shots on goal and dominating ball possession. Magic responded as do many opponents when confronted with Xtreme's finesse possession game. They got physical.
Magic players took to the two-handed shove to push Xtreme players off the ball while the ref watched, clearly amused.
But pushing Big Foot is a bit like spitting into the wind, and so at the 10 minute mark a Red corner kick bounced around the box, a Magic player cleared it…sort of. The ball ended up at Big Foot's big foot, who shrugged off a Magic push, and blasted the ball into the back of the net.
It was a shot of confidence for Red, but a wake-up call for Magic, who laid on pressure.
Red had problems clearing the ball out of their zone, giving the Magic too many opportunities in front. Sharkey and the Professor blocked their share of shots, and Happy Feet in goal turned two quality Magic chances away, but the crowd felt trouble was on the horizon. And they were correct.
Big Foot chased a loose ball into the Red corner where a Magic player had built up enough steam to actually move her off the ball with a two handed push. The ref smiled and let play continue. The Magic player dribbled down the goal line, releasing a shot from that weird angle. Happy Feet made the initial save, but the ball was spinning wildly and danced along the goal line. Happy Feet pulled the ball back before it completely crossed the line, but the ref, egged on by the very vocal Assistant Referee from Magic awarded the home team the goal at the 28 minute mark.
Red was seeing red and determined to pull back ahead and they continued to pressure the Magic keeper. But two minutes later, at the 30 minute mark, a loose ball squirted up over the defense and Magic's fastest and most dangerous player took a nice touch and outran the Red D. Happy Feet challenged, but the Magic player lifted the ball nicely into the top of the net. They were up 2-1.
The second half got under way with a Red adjustment. If the ref wasn't going to call anything, Red was going to start to use elbows to break the Magic players holding onto the Red jerseys. The Taxman and First Aid, frequently double and triple teamed, consistently broke free of the Magic midfield to go on the attack.
At 42 minutes, after a nice give-and-go from them, Hollywood found herself free in the box. She lined up the shot, and was pulled down from the side. Clearly a penalty kick, no? No. The ref was chatting with the Magic linesman about the looming weather, and instead of calling the PK, he called a corner.
But Red wouldn't take it immediately. Thanks to the Soccerplex's state-of-the-art lightning early warning system, the game was temporarily halted. The Red squad used the break to get even angrier that they were on the short end of the score sheet, and after a 30 minute delay, the game resumed. For 90 seconds. Again, players, coaches, and fans were sent off the field for lightning warnings.
This shorter break only got the squad more fired up, and when play resumed 15 minutes later, Red was ready to take the game back.
The Hammer, Professor, and Big Foot built a wall to keep Red on the attack, and everyone felt the tying goal was imminent.
Sensing the onslaught, the Magic made an adjustment, dropping four and five players to defend to hold onto their lead.
Xtreme put the Magic keepers to the test.
Xtreme moved the ball well, with Happy Feet, First Aid, and Hollywood attacking, probing the overloaded Magic D for weaknesses, and then taking shots, or regrouping, sending the ball back to a waiting Big Foot who would rock a team high 10 shots during the game. The Magic keeper, changed out at one point, made several monstrous saves, including a wet low rocket from First Aid that the crowd was sure would squirt free and into the goal – but the keeper held on.
Under enormous pressure, Magic ceded 8 corner kicks to Xtreme – the most they've been given in a game. The most exciting one came near full time when Sunshine had a series of three in a row. The last one was beautifully lofted into the center of the box to a waiting Hollywood.
Hollywood took the shot, the keeper stopped it but gave up the rebound, and as Hollywood was getting ready to unload, she was pulled down by three swarming Magic players. It was not the first time they had done that to her, but it would be the last. The referee blew the whistle for full time, even though unofficial sideline clocks showed at least 2 minutes remaining.
A disappointing conclusion, but Red looked very solid throughout. Eight players recorded 32 shots. Seventeen Red shots were on target, compared with nine from Magic. Full stats are available on the team's Team Snap site.
Xtreme takes the pitch again on Sunday for their home opener against SYC Xplosion.
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